Dean’s year-end update on anti-racism and DEIB efforts

Dear Colleagues,

 

Greetings. I am writing to provide a brief update on our efforts this year in the area of anti-racism and diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging.

 

As I think all of you know, we appointed an Anti-Racism Task Force in September to formulate a new strategic plan for our anti-racism efforts. The Task Force is nearing completion of its work. I want to thank the two co-chairs, Professors Willie Jennings and Laura Nasrallah, and the members of the committee (Antonio Bravo, Maritza Bond, David DeLeon, Michal Beth Dinkler, Jennifer Herdt, Jathan Martin, Donyelle McCray, Lynn Sullivan-Harmon, and Tisa Wenger) for their dedicated and sensitive work on this all year. We hope to have a final report in the next few weeks.

 

While the Task Force was fully engaged in its work, the University announced a new initiative asking all units to formulate five-year Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging (DEIB) plans (2/18/21). I asked Lynn Sullivan-Harmon, Associate Dean of DEIB, to lead the YDS effort. We appointed a committee to assist her that includes Antonio Bravo, Jennifer Herdt, Debby Jagielow, Willie Jennings, Tom Krattenmaker, Joyce Mercer, Laura Nasrallah, Jeanne Peloso, and John Stachniewicz. The overlap with the Anti-Racism Task Force was deliberate, although the University plan requires consideration of diversity on all fronts. Our report also includes the results of a DEIB Self-Assessment that gathered feedback from YDS students, faculty, staff, and alumni. Thank you to all who thoughtfully participated in the survey. We greatly appreciate your input. The report submitted yesterday is only a draft. We will submit the formal plan in September after we have the final report of the Task Force and have had time to discuss it with the community. I want to thank Lynn for accepting this challenge and for working under incredibly tight time constraints.

 

Two other initiatives have been underway. I asked the Curriculum Committee to review our curriculum with an eye to guaranteeing that all students would have significant exposure to anti-racism topics while here. The faculty met in teaching groups to explore issues within the curricula in their areas and then met with the Curriculum Committee to consider changes. Each group was asked to reflect on their disciplinary history, evaluate whether their introductory courses met the School’s commitment to equity, and to point to a particular course that was exemplary. I want to express my appreciation to the members of the Curriculum Committee for their work: Chris Anderson, Christy Charnel, Sarah Drummond, Jennifer Herdt (chair), Lisa Huck, Eboni Marshall Turman, Moriah Reichert, Matthew Roberts, Jackie Vayntrub, and Tisa Wenger. 

 

We also commissioned a study of YDS and our relationship to slavery and its aftermath. It was written by Ken Minkema, Skip Stout, and Ray Waddle with the assistance of Steve Crocco. The history was given to the Anti-Racism Task Force for comment, as well as to the University-wide committee exploring the University’s history in these matters. We are now waiting for official clearance from the University to post this history in the fall, both online and in a display here at YDS.

 

There are other initiatives underway as well. Joanne Jennings has been working with the Black Church Studies program in an effort to reshape it. Mary Moschella is leading a task force on a possible program in prison ministry.

 

If you see one of the people mentioned above, please express your appreciation for their work on behalf of the entire community.

 

These are some of the specific ways in which we have made an intensive effort to cultivate an anti-racist environment at YDS. We are not where we need to be, but I hope these indicate the seriousness of our commitment to creating an environment where everyone can belong. 

 

Best wishes,

 

Greg Sterling